Developmental transcriptomics in reveals the logic of a plasticity gene regulatory network.

Developmental plasticity enables the production of alternative phenotypes in response to different environmental conditions. While significant advances in understanding the ecological and evolutionary implications of plasticity have been made, understanding its genetic basis has lagged. However, a decade of genetic screens in the model nematode has culminated in 30 genes which affect mouth-form plasticity.

Newly identified nematodes from the Great Salt Lake are associated with microbialites and specially adapted to hypersaline conditions.

Extreme environments enable the study of simplified food-webs and serve as models for evolutionary bottlenecks and early Earth ecology. We investigated the biodiversity of invertebrate meiofauna in the benthic zone of the Great Salt Lake (GSL), Utah, USA, one of the most hypersaline lake systems in the world. The hypersaline bays within the GSL are currently thought to support only two multicellular animals: brine fly larvae and brine shrimp.

Bonding and Magnetic Trends in the [An(DPA)] Series Compared to the Ln(III) and An(IV) Analogues.

The crystal field parameters are determined from first-principles calculations in the [An(DPA)] series, completing previous work on the [Ln(DPA)] and [An(DPA)] series. The crystal field strength parameter follows the Ln(III) < An(III) < An(IV) trend. The parameters deduced at the orbital level decrease along the series, while J-mixing strongly impacts the many-electron parameters, especially for the Pu(III) complex.

Liquid Chromatography Quadrupole Time-of-Flight Mass Spectrometry Analysis of Eutectic Bis(2,2-dinitropropyl) Acetal/Formal Degradation Profile: Nontargeted Identification of Antioxidant Derivatives.

In the eutectic mixture of bis(2,2-dinitropropyl) acetal (BDNPA) and bis(2,2-dinitropropyl) formal (BDNPF), also known as nitroplasticizer (NP), -phenyl-β-naphthylamine (PBNA), an antioxidant, is used to improve the long-term storage of NP. PBNA scavenges nitrogen oxides (e.g.

Ontogeny of risk assessment and escape-hatching performance by red-eyed treefrog embryos in two threat contexts.

Arboreal embryos of red-eyed treefrogs, Agalychnis callidryas, hatch prematurely in response to hypoxia when flooded and to mechanosensory cues in snake attacks, but hatching later improves tadpole survival. We studied ontogenetic changes in risk assessment and hatching performance of embryos in response to flooding and physical disturbance. We hypothesized that risk assessment decreases as hatchling survival improves and hatching performance increases as embryos develop.

Frog embryos use multiple levels of temporal pattern in risk assessment for vibration-cued escape hatching.

Stereotyped signals can be a fast, effective means of communicating danger, but animals assessing predation risk must often use more variable incidental cues. Red eyed-treefrog, Agalychnis callidryas, embryos hatch prematurely to escape from egg predators, cued by vibrations in attacks, but benign rain generates vibrations with overlapping properties. Facing high false-alarm costs, embryos use multiple vibration properties to inform hatching, including temporal pattern elements such as pulse durations and inter-pulse intervals.

Multimodal mechanosensing enables treefrog embryos to escape egg-predators.

Mechanosensory-cued hatching (MCH) is widespread, diverse and important for survival in many animals. From flatworms and insects to frogs and turtles, embryos use mechanosensory cues and signals to inform hatching timing, yet mechanisms mediating mechanosensing are largely unknown. The arboreal embryos of red-eyed treefrogs, , hatch prematurely to escape predation, cued by physical disturbance in snake attacks.

Unraveling the structural stability and the electronic structure of ThO clusters.

Unraveling the correlations between the geometry, the relative energy and the electronic structure of metal oxide nanostructures is crucial for a better control of their size, shape and properties. In this work, we investigated these correlations for stoichiometric thorium dioxide clusters ranging from ThO to ThO using a chemically-driven geometry search algorithm in combination with state-of-the-art first principles calculations. This strategy allows us to homogeneously screen the potential energy surface of actinide oxide clusters for the first time.

Crystallographic structure and crystal field parameters in the [An(DPA)] series, An = Th, U, Np, Pu.

The [AnIV(DPA)3]2- series with An = Th, U, Np, Pu has been synthesized and characterized using SC-XRD and vibrational spectroscopy. First principles calculations were performed, the total electron density is analyzed using the Quantum Theory of Atoms in Molecules. Crystal field parameters and strength parameters are deduced following a previous work on the LnIII analog series e.

δ and φ back-donation in An metallacycles.

In all known examples of metal-ligand (M-L) δ and φ bonds, the metal orbitals are aligned to the ligand orbitals in a "head-to-head" or "side-to-head" fashion. Here, we report two fundamentally new types of M-L δ and φ interactions; "head-to-side" δ and "side-to-side" φ back-bonding, found in complexes of metallacyclopropenes and metallacyclocumulenes of actinides (Pa-Pu) that makes them distinct from their corresponding Group 4 analogues. In addition to the known Th and U complexes, our calculations include complexes of Pa, Np, and Pu.

Dispersion Forces Drive the Formation of Uranium-Alkane Adducts.

Single-crystal cryogenic X-ray diffraction at 6 K, electron paramagnetic resonance spectroscopy, and correlated electronic structure calculations are combined to shed light on the nature of the metal-tris(aryloxide) and η-H, C metal-alkane interactions in the [((ArO)tacn)U(cy-C6)]·(cy-C6) adduct. An analysis of the ligand field experienced by the uranium center using ab initio ligand field theory in combination with the angular overlap model yields rather unusual U-O and U-N bonding parameters for the metal-tris(aryloxide) interaction. These parameters are incompatible with the concept of σ and π metal-ligand overlap.

Covalency and magnetic anisotropy in lanthanide single molecule magnets: the DyDOTA archetype.

Lanthanide ions when complexed by polyamino-polycarboxylate chelators form a class of compounds of paramount importance in several research and technological areas, particularly in the fields of magnetic resonance and molecular magnetism. Indeed, the gadolinium derivative is one of the most employed contrast agents for magnetic resonance imaging while the dysprosium one belongs to a new generation of contrast agents for T-weighted MRI. In molecular magnetism, Single Molecule Magnets (SMMs) containing lanthanide ions have become readily popular in the chemistry and physics communities since record energy barriers to the reversal of magnetization were reported.

How do red-eyed treefrog embryos sense motion in predator attacks? Assessing the role of vestibular mechanoreception.

The widespread ability to alter timing of hatching in response to environmental cues can serve as a defense against threats to eggs. Arboreal embryos of red-eyed treefrogs, , can hatch up to 30% prematurely to escape predation. This escape-hatching response is cued by physical disturbance of eggs during attacks, including vibrations or motion, and thus depends critically on mechanosensory ability.

Derivation of Lanthanide Series Crystal Field Parameters From First Principles.

Two series of lanthanide complexes have been chosen to analyze trends in the magnetic properties and crystal field parameters (CFPs) along the two series: The highly symmetric LnZn (picHA) series (Ln=Tb, Dy, Ho, Er, Yb; picHA=picolinohydroxamic acid) and the [Ln(dpa) ](C H N ) ⋅3H O series (Ln=Ce-Yb; dpa=2,6-dipicolinic acid) with approximate three-fold symmetry. The first series presents a compressed coordination sphere of eight oxygen atoms whereas in the second series, the coordination sphere consists of an elongated coordination sphere formed of six oxygen atoms. The CFPs have been deduced from ab initio calculations using two methods: The AILFT (ab initio ligand field theory) method, in which the parameters are determined at the orbital level, and the ITO (irreducible tensor operator) decomposition, in which the problems are treated at the many-electron level.

Drug use patterns and predictors among homeless youth: Results of an ecological momentary assessment.

Background: Alcohol and drug use is associated with significant morbidity and mortality and is highly prevalent among homeless youth. Ecological Momentary Assessments (EMA) have been used to examine the effect of urges on drug use, though not among homeless youth.

Objectives: We assessed the patterns of drug use and the correlation between real-time contextual factors and drug use using EMA collected daily.

Ab Initio Ligand-Field Theory Analysis and Covalency Trends in Actinide and Lanthanide Free Ions and Octahedral Complexes.

Actinide chemistry is gaining increased focus in modern research, particularly in the fields of energy research and molecular magnetism. However, the structure-function and structure-property relationships of actinides have still not been studied as intensely as those for transition metals. In this work, we report a detailed ab initio study of the spectroscopic, magnetic, and bonding properties of the trivalent actinide free ions and their associated hexachloride complexes in octahedral symmetry.

Analysis of the Magnetic Exchange Interactions in Yttrium(III) Complexes Containing Nitronyl Nitroxide Radicals.

We report a combined theoretical and experimental investigation of the exchange interactions governing the magnetic behavior of a series of nitronyl nitroxide (NIT)-based Y(III) complexes, i.e., Y(hfac)(NIT-R) with R = PhOPh (1), PhOEt (2), and PhOMe (3a, 3b).

- isomerism modulates the magnetic relaxation of dysprosium single-molecule magnets.

Geometry and magnetic relaxation modulations in a series of mononuclear dysprosium complexes, [DyLz(-vanilin)]·X·solvent (Lz = 6-pyridin-2-yl-[1,3,5]triazine-2,4-diamine; X = Br (), NO (), CFSO ()), were realized by changing the nature of the counter-anion. The Dy ions in all complexes are eight-coordinate and in approximate symmetry environments. The magnetic relaxation and anisotropy of these complexes were systematically investigated, both experimentally and from calculations.

Elucidating the Magnetic Anisotropy and Relaxation Dynamics of Low-Coordinate Lanthanide Compounds.

The magnetic relaxation and anisotropy of 3- and 4-coordinate lanthanide complexes were systematically investigated, and the change of SMM behavior originating from the equatorially coordinating ligand field was successfully elucidated through combined experimental and theoretical studies. Remarkably, a novel approach taking into account the different contributions of atomic charges, dipole moments, and quadrupole moments was used to map the electrostatic potential around the metal center in the Dy(III) derivatives, revealing the key role played by the ligands as a whole and not just by the coordinating donor atoms as often considered.

Site-Resolved Two-Step Relaxation Process in an Asymmetric Dy2 Single-Molecule Magnet.

Elaborate chemical design is of utmost importance in order to slow down the relaxation dynamics in single-molecule magnets (SMMs) and hence improve their potential applications. Much interest was devoted to the study of distinct relaxation processes related to the different crystal fields of crystallographically independent lanthanide ions. However, the assignment of the relaxation processes to specific metal sites remains a challenging task.

Evaluation of (95)Mo Nuclear Shielding and Chemical Shift of [Mo6X14](2-) Clusters in the Liquid Phase.

[Mo6X14](2-) octahedral molybdenum clusters are the main building blocks of a large range of materials. Although (95)Mo nuclear magnetic resonance was proposed to be a powerful tool to characterize their structural and dynamical properties in solution, these measurements have never been complemented by theoretical studies which can limit their interpretation for complex systems. In this Article, we use quantum chemical calculations to evaluate the (95)Mo chemical shift of three clusters: [Mo6Cl14](2-), [Mo6Br14](2-), and [Mo6I14](2-).

Mechanism of Magnetostructural Transitions in Copper-Nitroxide-Based Switchable Molecular Magnets: Insights from ab Initio Quantum Chemistry Calculations.

The gradual magnetostructural transition in breathing crystals based on copper(II) and pyrazolyl-substituted nitronyl nitroxides has been analyzed by means of DDCI quantum chemistry calculations. The magnetic coupling constants (J) within the spin triads of Cu(hfac)2L(Bu)·0.5C8H18 have been evaluated for the X-ray structures reported at different temperatures.

Luminescence and single-molecule magnet behavior in lanthanide complexes involving a tetrathiafulvalene-fused dipyridophenazine ligand.

The reaction between the TTF-fused dipyrido[3,2-a:2',3'-c]phenazine (dppz) ligand (L) and 1 equiv of Ln(hfac)3·2H2O (hfac(-) = 1,1,1,5,5,5-hexafluoroacetyacetonate) or 1 equiv of Ln(tta)3·2H2O (tta(-) = 2-thenoyltrifluoroacetonate) (Ln(III) = Dy(III) or Yb(III)) metallic precursors leads to four mononuclear complexes of formula [Ln(hfac)3(L)]·C6H14 (Ln(III) = Dy(III) (1), Yb(III) (2)) and [Ln(tta)3(L)]·C6H14 (Ln(III) = Dy(III) (3), Yb(III) (4)), respectively. Their X-ray structures reveal that the Ln(III) ion is coordinated to the bischelating nitrogenated coordination site and adopts a D4d coordination environment. The dynamic magnetic measurements show a slow relaxation of the Dy(III) magnetization for 1 and 3 with parameters highlighting a slower relaxation for 3 than for 1 (τ0 = 4.

Influence of the supramolecular architecture on the magnetic properties of a Dy(III) single-molecule magnet: an ab initio investigation.

Single-crystal angular-resolved magnetometry and wavefunction-based calculations have been used to reconsider the magnetic properties of a recently reported Dy(III)-based single-molecule magnet, namely [Dy(hfac)3(L(1))] with hfac(-) = 1,1,1,5,5,5-hexafluoroacetylacetonate and L(1) = 2-(4,5-bis(propylthio)-1,3-dithiol-2-ylidene)-6-(pyridin-2-yl)-5H-[1,3]dithiolo[4',5':4,5]benzo[1,2-d]imidazole. The magnetic susceptibility and magnetization at low temperature are found to be strongly influenced by supramolecular interactions. Moreover, taking into account the hydrogen-bond networks in the calculations allows to explain the orientation of the magnetic axes.